Falling For The Man I Married

"Ahh.. that's so sweet, honey. They're so sweet." his mother walked closer to us clapping her hands.
They both have genuine and happy smiles on their lips.
"I'm happy for you son, you've finally found your woman." Mr Wilsons patted him on the shoulder while Mrs Wilsons hugged me
tightly. Nancy was also smiling behind them and she already stopped recording.
I couldn't help but gulped the conscience that has risen inside me. I wish I could say the same. I wish I could proudly say, 'yes I
am his woman' but no. These are not real. These are just part of a deal.
"Thank you so much, Madi. You were an angel sent from above to my Gabriel." Mrs Wilsons took both of my hands.
And I smiled nervously. I looked at Gabriel but he wasn't looking at me.
"Angel? What do you mean, Mrs Wilsons?" I asked her trying to calm myself down.
"Oh come on, let's cut that formality and just call me 'mama'." My eyes widened in surprise.
-'Mama?'-
"And don't call me Mrs Wilsons, because you're only calling yourself by that too."
"Huh?"
"I know someday you're going to call me mama too, why don't we do it now? I heard my son call you his 'future Mrs Wilsons',
why don't we start it today, right honey?" she called her husband's attention.
And everyone looked at me. I bit my lip when I glanced at Gabriel, but the jerk.. always the jerk himself, said nothing but just
smirked.
"Yes, Madi, I also want you to call me Dad from now on."
My eyes widened and a light chuckled escaped my mouth. I don't know what my face looks like at that moment. I wanted to
laugh but I also wanted to kill Gabriel.
"D-Dad...?"
"Yes. That's better than calling me Mr Wilsons every time."

"And call me Mama." I smiled at her wife.
"M-Mama."
And she hugged me again. "Thank you, Madi. We're always here to support you and Gab. And regarding my condition, forget it.
If you two want to have more babies in the future, then that's fine with me. You can start it now."
"Hehe..." I smiled in awkwardness. I don't know what to say.
And when the jerk has noticed that the situation was getting more awkward, he finally chose to open his mouth.
"Ma, don't pressure Madi. Let's plan this for ourselves." he pulled my hand and led me to his side.
"Okay fine. By the way, your Aunts and I were planning to have a family picnic tomorrow at the lake. I want you to wake up early
tomorrow, guys. All the boys, you will go there early for fishing and prepare the grill, while all of us girls will follow you after we
prepare our lunch."
"Yey! I missed this, Ma." Nancy squealed in excitement. And she hugged her mother.
"I know." Mrs Wilsons patted her daughter's hand and kissed her head.
With that scene, I suddenly remembered my mom. I didn't notice I was smiling at them until Gabriel held my hand and I looked at
him.
I silently asked him by raising my two eyebrows, but he just shook his head.
"Nancy," he called his sister.
"Hmm?"
"Why did you have to take pictures earlier?" he asked with a scowl on his face.
"Why? What's wrong with that?" she asked raising her eyebrow.
"What's wrong? You're invading our privacy!"
"Nice... invading privacy? Excuse me, dear brother. But as I remember, you two are in the kitchen and this kitchen is a family's
property. So, there is no invading of privacy there!"

"You don't understand!"
"I don't understand? What part, dear brother? I told you, don't make out in the kitchen, but you still did! Eww!"
"Hey kids, stop it! My God, you're both a grown adult. Why are you always fighting over little things?" their mother stood in the
middle of them, while their father just shakes his head.
I smiled, I bet it's just normal with these two since they were kids. And I can't believe this side of Gabriel's personality. He was
acting as if he's younger than Nancy, which is the opposite.
"Ma---"
"Stop it, Nancy! You're always fighting like you're cats and dogs! You can't together in the same place."
Mr Wilsons and I shared a look and smiled at each other. He called me through a head signal. It means, he wants to talk to me. I
wasn't pressured on the outside, but thanks God, no one sees my inside as I can feel my heart, my intestines and all the organs
inside my stomach are tumbling in pressure and nervousness.
I followed Mr Wilsons to the veranda, looking out at the flower garden outside. He's just leaning against the veranda railings. I
stopped and stood next to him inhaling the fresh scent of the flowers that filled in my nostrils.
"How are you, Madi?"
That was not the first question I expected to hear from him. It has a lot of meaning. How am I personally? How am I as a
girlfriend or how I am accepting all of this?
"I'm fine D-Dad... I guess?" I chuckled at the end. My heart was hammering inside my ribcage.
"Good. Do you really love, Gabriel?" I gulped at his question.
"Yes. I love him." I answered not looking at him but at the flowers.
"I can see that."
My eyes widened and my head immediately snapped at him. I'm not sure what of he's thinking at the moment. If he already knew
that we were just acting or that he already knew that I'm no longer acting.
"I can see it in your eyes, the way you look at my son."

I didn't say anything. I just turned my eyes back to the garden.
"You know what, I like you Madi. You made my son happy. You made him smile again.".
I gulped again. That's almost the same as what Nancy told me in the kitchen.
"I hope you stay with him, Madi." my breath hitched when he faced me. "I hope you stay with him, no matter what happened. I
hope you can stay in love with him and make him the best man he can be. If that happens, Madi, I owe you everything."
I bit my lip and was about to speak when I heard Gabriel's voice. I sighed inwardly for the instant relief.
"Dad!" he called his father.
-'Whew! That was so intense.'-
"Son." he turned to look at him. "I'm just talking to your girlfriend." and he smiled.
"I can see that," Gabriel said in a serious tone.
I turned around and pretended not to hear their conversation, but my curiosity draws me.
"Take care of her, Son. She's one of a kind. Even if you look for another like her in this world, you can never find someone like
her again. Try to love her son."
I haven't heard Gabriel's answer. I was left wondering about my thoughts. What did Mr Wilsons mean by 'stay with him' and his
word with his son, 'try to love her'? Does he already know everything? If so, why was he still pretending?
"Are you okay?"
I was pulled from my thoughts when Gabriel stood next to me.
"Can I ask you something?" I gulped before nodding and looking at him. He's also looking at me.
"Earlier in the kitchen, before I kissed you, did you... uhmm... already know they were watching?"
My breath stacked from my throat.
"Was that why you said I love you---"

"Yes," I answered faking my happy tone. "I've already seen them, that's why I said I love you." that's a lie. A big lie.
"Hmm," he said nodding and turned his look out of the garden.
"Why? It's a part of the deal, right? So, I just played my part." I said taking my eyes off him.
"Yes, that's only a part of the deal and it's a good job, Madi."
I didn't say anything. I just smiled bitterly. I hate this feeling... Lying. I'm not just lying to everyone, to him, but also myself. I don't
know what's happening to me. Am I falling in love with him or is this what they called 'love? But I thought love is a happy feeling?
Why am I hurting?
I glanced at him and he also did the same. His eyes held so many emotions and for the first time... I couldn't even read any of
them.